More than 160 Chinese workers have been saved from "slave-like conditions" in Brazil, where they had been building an electric car factory for Chinese giant BYD, officials said Tuesday.

Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a factory for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, saying workers lived in conditions comparable to "slavery". RIO DE JANEIRO More than 160 workers have been rescued in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia,

More than 160 Chinese workers have been saved from “slave-like conditions” in Brazil, where they had been building an electric car factory

Construction at BYD’s new EV plant in Brazil was suddenly halted Monday after authorities found Chinese workers in “slavery-like”

BYD, one of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, surpassed Elon Musk’s Tesla in EV sales during the final quarter of 2023. Brazil, BYD’s largest overseas market, has been central to the company’s global expansion efforts.

BYD (BYDDF) has cut ties with a construction firm Jinjiang Construction Brazil after Brazilian authorities stopped construction of a new

Brazilian authorities have rescued 163 workers from conditions similar to “slavery” at a construction site for a factory of Chinese electric vehicle company Build Your Dreams (BYD) in Camacari, Bahia.

More than 160 Chinese nationals working in "slave-like conditions" to build a factory for BYD have been found in Brazil, according to local authorities.

Officials said staff were working excessively long hours while being kept in ‘degrading conditions’ in their accommodation.

Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like conditions” at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil’s Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor’s office said during a news conference on Monday.

"Slavery-like conditions", as defined by Brazilian law, include debt bondage and work that violates human dignity. The MPT added that the situation also constitutes "forced labour", as many workers had their wages withheld and faced excessive costs for terminating their contracts. BYD said affected workers had been moved to hotels.